Recall campaigns by affected system, 2016–2024.
Showing the 12 most recent of 45 campaigns, newest first, from NHTSA records. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
26V374000NHTSA report received June 2026Model years: 2017
NHTSA campaign 26V374000: Ford Escape visibility recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Consequence: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge.
26V117000NHTSA report received March 2026Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 26V117000: Ford Escape visibility recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Consequence: Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge.
26V123000NHTSA report received March 2026Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 26V123000: Ford Escape back over prevention recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge.
26V011000NHTSA report received January 2026Model years: 2016–2019
NHTSA campaign 26V011000: Ford Escape equipment recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied.
25V829000NHTSA report received December 2025Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 25V829000: Ford Escape structure recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2025 Escape vehicles. The liftgate hinge covers may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached liftgate hinge cover can create a distraction or a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect and reinstall, or replace any missing liftgate hinge covers as necessary, free of charge.
25V695000NHTSA report received October 2025Model years: 2016
NHTSA campaign 25V695000: Ford Escape back over prevention recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge.
25V685000NHTSA report received October 2025Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 25V685000: Ford Escape equipment recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied.
25V693000NHTSA report received October 2025Model years: 2020
NHTSA campaign 25V693000: Ford Escape service brakes recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles. The rear brake pads may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can reduce brake function in the event of a brake booster malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: Reduced brake function can require the driver to apply more brake pedal force, and the distance required to stop the vehicle may be extended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the front brake pads, free of charge.
25V467000NHTSA report received July 2025Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 25V467000: Ford Escape fuel system recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the engine control software.
25V442000NHTSA report received June 2025Model years: 2020–2022
NHTSA campaign 25V442000: Ford Escape back over prevention recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.
25V372000NHTSA report received June 2025Model years: 2023–2024
NHTSA campaign 25V372000: Ford Escape engine recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Consequence: An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge.
25V345000NHTSA report received May 2025Model years: 2020–2023
NHTSA campaign 25V345000: Ford Escape engine recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.
The same full inspection at every tier, at the seller’s location, with a photo-documented report:
Other compact SUVs to weigh against the Ford Escape. Recall counts cover different model-year spans and are not a reliability ranking.
How many recalls does the Ford Escape have?
As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 45 recall campaigns for the Ford Escape, model years 2016–2024. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so a particular vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. Whether an open recall is a safety risk depends on the campaign, so read the NHTSA entry for the VIN. Each campaign below shows the remedy NHTSA records, which may be a dealer or service-center repair, an over-the-air software update, or, for some campaigns, a repurchase. This page details the most recent campaigns; the full record for any VIN is at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should an inspector check on a used Ford Escape?
Beyond the standard pre-purchase checks, the recall history for this model concentrates in: electrical system, fuel system, power train, back over prevention, air bags, equipment. An inspector documents the visible and operational condition of those systems without disassembly; internal parts, software-only issues and whether a recall remedy was performed are VIN-lookup questions, not inspection findings.
Can a pre-purchase inspection tell me whether a Ford Escape recall was done?
No. Whether a recall repair was performed is recorded against the VIN, so NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls (or the manufacturer's own) is the authoritative check. Run it before you travel. The inspection covers what a VIN lookup cannot: the physical condition of the vehicle in front of you.
Can you inspect a Ford Escape at a dealer, a private seller, or out of state?
Yes. The inspector usually travels to the vehicle at the seller's location — a dealer lot or a private seller — and you do not need to be there. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches an independent inspector within 50 miles of any US ZIP code, widening to 150 miles if needed; more remote locations are quoted case by case. You get a photo-documented PDF report in 24–48 hours.
How much does a Ford Escape pre-purchase inspection cost?
A pre-purchase inspection of a Ford Escape through Vehicle Inspectors: Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Your card is saved at booking, not charged. A hold is placed when an inspector schedules, and you are charged after the inspection is completed. If no inspector accepts within 72 hours, the request auto-cancels and nothing is charged.
Vehicle Inspectors matches buyers with independent inspectors nationwide. Local pages for cities with active inspectors:
